Chiefs lose 4-3 to Rattlers, lose two pitchers to promotions by Cards

PEORIA -- The St. Louis Cardinals continued to reach into the Peoria Chiefs pitching staff for promotions on Thursday as part of a four-player shuffle off the field.

On the field, the Chiefs waited through a 98-minute rain delay, then dropped a 4-3 decision to Wisconsin in the opener of a seven-game homestand before 1,561 at Dozer Park.

Mason Katz snapped a 16-game homerless streak with a two-out, two-run shot to left in the sixth inning to cut Peoria's deficit to 4-2, while Ronald Castillo had three hits and righty Brandon Lee made his Chiefs debut with 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief.

Wisconsin's Mike Ratterree doubled and homered, though, while IVC and Illinois State product Chris Razo pitched a scoreless ninth for a save to help the Timber Rattlers snap Peoria's five-game win streak.

Early in the day, Chiefs starter Silfredo Garcia and reliever Chris Thomas were promoted to high-A Palm Beach in the Florida State League.

In turn, the Cardinals sent righty relievers Lee and Mike Holback up from extended spring training to Peoria.

"This promotion has everything to do with his performance here, not his age," said Chiefs manager Joe Kruzel of Thomas, who at 26 was the oldest player in the Midwest League. "He did what he was asked to do. Some guys can play the game a long time and never get an opportunity to move up.

"He pitched well and he got there. It's a great feeling when you can tell a guy he's moving up. We're happy for Thomas and Garcia."

Thomas led Peoria with six saves. In 16 appearances he struck out 26 and walked just 5, and opponents hit only .197 against him.

Holback, 22, pitched for Kruzel at rookie league entry Johnson City in the Appalachian League last year. He had 16 appearances, the last four of which were starts.

Lee, 23, signed as a free agent with the Cardinals last summer. He pitched at Johnson City and in rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League last season. At Johnson City he was 1-1 with a 2.91 ERA in 12 games and had a 21-7 strikeout/walk ratio.

"Holback will take Garcia's spot in the rotation," Kruzel said. "He stayed in extended spring to get stretched out, and he throws strikes, so we want to look at him as a starter. It'll be an opportunity to see how much he's progressed."

CHIEFS BRIEFS: Chiefs shortstop Cesar Valera had his left lower arm wrapped, and did not play. ... Chiefs' came into the game 23-15, their best start through 38 games since Peoria's 2002 Midwest League championship team opened 24-14.

Dave Eminian covers the Chiefs and Rivermen for the Journal Star. Reach him at 686-3206 or deminian@pjstar.com. Check out his sports blog, Cleve's World, at pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @icetimecleve.